Upcoming Important Dates

Dear Sister Thea Bowman Families,

As we prepare for the school year, we have several important dates coming up:

BACK TO SCHOOL BACKPACK FAIR

Location: Belleville West High School
Date/Time Information: Wednesday, August 8, 2018 5-7pm

 

NEW STUDENT TESTING:

We would like to test all new students to our school in grades K-8. Please bring your student(s) to the school either:
Thursday: Aug 9 from 12 – 2, or
Friday: Aug 10 from 10 – 12.
Testing will last from 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on their grade level.

SIGN REPAIR IN FRONT OF SCHOOL:

Come help us get the sign back up in front of the school. Bring: Work Clothes, shovels, and time. No experience needed. Please contact the office if you can join us.
Thursday 5 – 7 PM

WELCOME BACK BBQ and New Family Orientation Ice Cream Social:

All families are welcome to join us for a Welcome Back Family BBQ on Sunday, Aug 12. BBQ starts at 4 PM. New Family Orientation at 5:30 PM and Ice Cream Follows. Come meet all the families and enjoy Hamburgers and Hot Dogs.

Blessings and Peace,
Dan Nickerson
Principal

Back to School Fun Fair on August 8

On Wednesday, August 8th, 2018, the Greater Belleville Chamber of Commerce’s Education Committee will host their annual Back to School Fun Fair at Belleville West High School from 5 – 7 p.m. for participating Chamber member school students including Sr. Thea Bowman. Families in attendance will receive valuable information from our business leaders while participating in activities that will allow them to leave with a backpack full of school supplies in preparation for the new school year. The event will celebrate the new school year with games, activities, dental and physical exams and more.

The Education Committee hopes to provide up to 1,000 backpacks for our school-age children.

Weekly Newsletter – April 26, 2018

PRINCIPAL’S NOTE

Last night, I was blessed to attend a discussion on and film debut of “Then I Knew”. It is a local documentary about being African American in Southern Illinois. You can find the related article and series on BND.com. One important aspect that kept repeating was the importance of COMMUNITY.

ENROLLMENT OPEN!!! REDUCED RATE IS EXTENDED UNTIL MAY 1, 2018.

Invite families and friends to join our Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School COMMUNITY.

DENTAL SAFARI MAY 3rd

Do we have your Consent Form? We need it ASAP! Forget appointments, we’ll do the work May 3!

SUMMER SESSION

Letters and applications are out. We need to plan numbers and staff, so please return your registration quickly! Summer Session for K – 8 students this summer from May 30 – Jun 19. Breakfast and lunch will be offered.

PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION FAMILY BBQ

The PTO is planning an end of the year FAMILY BBQ to build COMMUNITY. It will be Friday, May 11 starting at 3:00 PM, with food starting at 4 PM. Please be a part of this important event for our school COMMUNITY.

STAFF MEETING and 12:30 DISMISSAL: MONDAY, MAY 7

TEACHER APPRECIATION DAY: TUESDAY, MAY 8

Weekly Newsletter – April 19, 2018

PRINCIPAL’S NOTE

Thank you to our students, staff, and Artisan Teachers, and especially God for making our Spring Concert a wonderful praise of God and celebration of Sister Thea Bowman! Be a Shooting Star For God!!!

ENROLLMENT OPEN!!! REDUCED RATE IS EXTENDED UNTIL MAY 1, 2018.

ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONAL (SECRETARY) DAY

Honor your favorite School Secretary with a card……

DENTAL SAFARI MAY 3rd

Do we have your Consent Form? Forget appointments, make this happen this next month for free!

SUMMER SESSION

Letters and applications are out. We need to plan numbers and staff, so please return your registration quickly! Summer Session for K – 8 students this summer from May 30 – Jun 19. Breakfast and lunch will be offered.

PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION FAMILY BBQ

The PTO is planning an end of the year FAMILY BBQ. It will be Friday, May 11 starting at 3:00 PM, with food starting at 4 PM. Make this a success for our families and get involved. You will be contacted this week!

IOWA ASSESSMENT NEXT WEEK

We will have our Spring Iowa Assessments Tuesday – Thursday next week. Please encourage your students to do well, as good results help us with grants and donations for Tuition Assistance. Also, please have them here early for a good breakfast each morning!!!

Weekly Newsletter – March 28, 2018

PRINCIPAL’S NOTE
As we celebrate the most important week of the Christian faith, Holy Week, we have hope because Jesus died for our sins, but more importantly, Jesus rose from death on the third day for our Salvation. Have a Blessed Easter as you celebrate this Sunday!

IL SCHOLARSHIPS FOR OUR STUDENTS
If you need assistance with part two of the application, please contact the school for an appointment. You will be notified of actual scholarship awards by May.

CAMP ONDESSONK
Camp Ondessonk wants your student!!! Visit Ondessonk.com/giving/scholarships today!!!

EASTER BREAK
Enjoy Easter Break from Thursday, 29 March until Monday, April 2. We will see you all bright and early on Tuesday, April 3.

EXTENDED DAY
Session 6 begins Tuesday, April 3, 2018. Please turn in your registration and fees by Tuesday.

SUMMER SESSION
Never too early to plan ahead. We plan to offer Summer Session for K – 8 students this summer from May 30 – Jun 19. K-5 and 7, 8 will run from 8:30 – 12:15 with lunch. 6th grade Summer Session will run 8:30 – 3 PM. Summer Session will be based on academic level, not grade level, and will be offered based on student sign-up.

SPRING CONCERT
Please start to look for the Black and White outfit for Spring Concert. If you need help, please contact the office. Mark your calendar for our Spring Concert, Sunday, April 15 at 3 PM. All students attend. Dance Ministry, Ballroom Dance, Violin, and Choir! Dress Rehearsal on Apr 13 at 10 AM

VISION AND HEARING TESTING
Free Vision and Hearing Tests will be given to our students on April 19, 2018.

STAFF MEETING AND EARLY DISMISSAL, APR 9 12:30

Weekly Newsletter – March 22, 2018

PRINCIPAL’S NOTE
This week we asked our students to concentrate on giving of their virtue to others. They are supposed to take one action a day to show a virtue like: Kindness, Love, Patience, Knowledge, Thankfulness,Understanding, or Forgiveness. Please encourage your student to take a positive action and celebrate it if they share it with you.

IL SCHOLARSHIPS FOR OUR STUDENTS
We are seeing more families show up on our report of completed applications. If you did part one of the application, part two notification should show up by this next week. If you do not receive an e-mail, please contact EmpowerIllinois.org directly. You will be notified of actual scholarship awards by May.

CAMP ONDESSONK
Camp Ondessonk wants your student!!! Visit Ondessonk.com/giving/scholarships today!!!

ST ALBAN ROE, WILDWOOD, MO VIOLIN AND PRAISE DANCE SAT, MAR 24
We will leave the school at 3PM. Transportation and pizza after the mass are provided!!! Return permission slips.

NO BUSES AND EASTER BREAK
3rd Quarter Report Card Conferences are Thursday, 22 Mar all day. Also, next week we will not have bus service, but we need your students. Please arrange rides early.

EXTENDED DAY
Session 6 begins Tuesday, April 3, 2018. Please turn in your registration and fees by Wed, Mar 28, 2018.

SUMMER SESSION
Never too early to plan ahead. We plan to offer Summer Session for K – 8 students this summer from May 30 – Jun 19. K-5 and 7, 8 will run from 8:30 – 12:15 with lunch. 6th grade Summer Session will run 8:30 – 3 PM. Summer Session will be based on academic level, not grade level, and will be offered based on student sign-up.

SPRING CONCERT
Mark your calendar for our Spring Concert, Sunday, April 15 at 3 PM. All students attend. Dance Ministry, Ballroom Dance, Violin, and Choir!

VISION AND HEARING TESTING
Free Vision and Hearing Tests will be given to our students on April 19, 2018.

Kindergarten Tea – March 15

Kindergarten Tea – March 15

We invite you and your child to visit and tour so you can see and experience the classroom first hand.

Our Registration is filling – please… Don’t Wait for the Waitlist!
Call (618) 397-0316

We are pleased to offer great educational value and benefits such as, smaller class sizes with a dynamic core curriculum including learning centers and weekly classes in Spanish, Art, Music, Physical Education, Library and Computer Technology.   Kindergarten students learn about God, read, solve math problems, learn science, and have fun with many activities and school projects. They learn values, self-respect, and respect for others.

They are inspired to learn as they prepare for first grade.

Every classroom in our school utilizes SMART board technology, and students enjoy individualized support and education. Every student matters and every student learns in a happy and secure environment.

Our Kindergarten Class at Sr. Thea Bowman Catholic School is waiting for your student to join our family. We can’t wait to meet you – come and learn what we are all about.

Incoming Kindergarten Students must be 5 years of age by September 1st.

Plan to visit on March 15, 2018.  Morning: 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Don’t Wait!  The Class will fill quickly.

Weekly Newsletter – March 8, 2018

PRINCIPAL’S NOTE
Kindness is a virtue, but “joaning” is not. I encourage you to talk with your students about treating other students with respect. We want a safe school for all, and “joaning” and negative comments about others makes it emotionally and socially unsafe for students. Help us make our school one that Sister Thea Bowman would love to visit.

IL SCHOLARSHIPS FOR OUR STUDENTS
We have the possibility to give full tuition to the first 20 families at Sister Thea Bowman who apply. Did you???

BENEFIT DINNER, SATURDAY, MARCH 10
This is it !!! We hope to see you on Saturday Night!

CAMP ONDESSONK
For more information on scholarships please go to Ondessonk.com/giving/scholarships.

ST ALBAN ROE, WILDWOOD, MO VIOLIN AND PRAISE DANCE SAT, MAR 24
We will leave the school at 3PM. Transportation and meal after the mass are provided!!! Return permission slips.

SR THEA BOWMAN OPEN HOUSE AND REGISTRATION
We will host an Open House on Mar 15, and Registration begins in March. More details to follow.

SR THEA BOWMAN FISH FRY, FRIDAY, MAR 16
Help us celebrate LENT with another Fish Fry on Mar16, starting at 3:30 PM and ending at 6:30 PM. This is a great social time and fundraiser. We sold out last time! Invite 5 friends!!!

PLAN AHEAD
3rd Quarter Report Card Conferences are Thursday, 22 Mar all day. Start to consider times you want to attend. Also, from Mar 26 – Mar 28, we will not have bus service, but we need your students. Please arrange rides early.

SUMMER SESSION
Never too early to plan ahead. We plan to offer Summer Session for K – 8 students this summer from May 30 – Jun 19. K-5 and 7, 8 will run from 8:30 – 12:15 with lunch. 6th grade Summer Session will run 8:30 – 3 PM. Summer Session will be based on academic level, not grade level, and will be offered based on student sign-up.

 

Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School will become a St Louis ACCESS Academy Partner School
a) Our school joins three other St Louis Schools: Most Holy Trinity School and Academy, St Cecilia School and Academy, and St Louis Catholic Academy
b) The partnership is a stepping stone to St Louis and Illinois Catholic High Schools for college-prep high school education

Sister Thea Bowman Academy will start with the 6th grade class of 2018-2019
a) Each year, as this class moves up, an additional class is added
b) This class will be the first class through the entire program
c) There is not an option to be in the Academy; all 6th graders will be Academy students

Sister Thea Bowman Academy (Grade 6 -8) will include the following mandatory components:
a) Longer school day: 8 AM – 5 PM daily. There is no Extended Day, as this is the school day
—All of the 6th – 8th grade will move to a 8 AM – 5 PM schedule next school year
—Bus Service for 5 PM pick-up has been requested from District 189
—K -5 school day will remain 8 AM – 3:30 PM
b) Longer school year
—Academy students attend a 3-week Summer Session
—Mandatory academic session focused on core areas
—About 1 hour of each day is used for Enrichment Activity
c) Graduate Support Director
—Meets with students to prepare them for college-prep high school
—Guides family and student through high school application process
—Sets up enrichment sessions
—Shadows students through high school

Additional components of longer school day
a) Middle School goes to 60 minute classes (currently 45 minutes)
b) Students have Academic Lab 3 PM – 4 PM daily
—Some days are a guided class (math, LA, science, etc.)
—Some time may be dedicated to focused study hall
c) Students have Enrichment from 4 PM – 5 PM daily
—Enrichment involves life skills, study skills, personal development, etc
—Examples: personal finance, fitness, robotics, coding, theater, etc.

Registration will begin Mar 15, 2018
a) Registration includes school year (2018-2019) and summer session (2018)
b) Summer Session is scheduled for May 30 – Jun 19 (M-F from 8:30 AM – 3 PM)

St Louis ACCESS ACADEMY DATA:
a) 2017-18 School Year Data:
—180 middle school students are enrolled in an ACCESS Academy

Over 210 high school students are receiving tuition scholarships
a) 99% are first generation, college-bound learners
—Over 50 ACCESS graduates are taking advantage of our Work Study Program
b) Inception Data:
—98% of Academy graduates accepted to private, college-prep high schools
—99% of Academy graduates graduate high school on time.
—96% of Academy graduates accepted to college or other post-secondary institution